History - Case study of British colonial rule in Malaya

• Birch faced resistance due to his personality and background:

  • He could not speak Malay and relied on a translator
  • Birch was unfamiliar with Malay customs and traditions
  • He lacked an understanding and awareness of Malay culture and customs
  • Birch became insensitive towards Malay customs and traditions
  • He quickly passed judgment on Malay customs and traditions
  • Birch felt it was unnecessary to learn more about Malay customs and traditions
• Birch faced resistance due to different interpretations of Raja Abdullah’s letter:

  • Raja Abdullah's letter to the British government requested support against rivals in a succession dispute
  • The British interpreted the letter as Abdullah accepting British rule and advice
  • Raja Abdullah did not intend for the British to have such power in the state
  • The appointment of a British Resident was seen as the British forcing their way into Malaya
  • Locals preferred Malay rule over British rule
• Birch faced resistance due to reforms he imposed:

  • Stopped tax collection by the Sultan and Malay Chiefs
  • Introduced a Code of Civil and Criminal Law to replace customary ways
  • Abolished debt-slavery
  • Birch's actions led to the Sultan and Malay chiefs losing their administrative powers
  • Locals felt Birch was selfish and arrogant, only caring about himself
• Circumstances in Perak led to British intervention due to political instability:

  • Succession disputes after the death of Sultan Ali
  • Succession in Perak based on rotation, but often ignored
  • Dispute between Raja Abdullah and Raja Ismail
  • Rival Malay camps took sides in disputes of secret societies
• Chaos created by Larut Wars/secret society fights:

  • Large tin deposits discovered in Larut, Perak in 1848
  • Ghee Hins and Hai Sans fought for control over mining plots and water courses
  • Larut wars disrupted stability and trade in Perak
  • British intervened to restore law and order
• British intervention due to a request by Abdullah:

  • Raja Abdullah requested British support as Sultan of Perak and a British Resident
  • Clarke used the chaos in Perak as an excuse to intervene
  • British intervention aimed to protect their economic interests
• Role played by man-on-the-spot: Sir Andrew Clarke:

  • Clarke appointed as governor of Perak to protect British trading interests
  • Clarke seized the opportunity presented by Abdullah's letter to intervene in Perak
  • Clarke decided on intervention before reporting to other British officials
• During the Industrial Revolution, there was advancement in technology with the invention of machinery and engines
• This increased the demand for manufactured goods and led to growth in industries such as tin-plating and tin canning
• The increased demand for raw materials made them more expensive as the demand increased
• The opening of the Suez Canal in 1969 reduced travelling time between Europe and Asia from 16 weeks to 6 weeks
• This increased the volume of trade between Southeast Asia and the rest of the world
• The British needed to find new bases in the region to protect British shipping and fight against piracy threat
• The Franco-Prussian war in 1870 upset the balance of power in Europe
• France tried to regain its lost prestige by going to war against Prussia but was quickly defeated
• The war resulted in the unification of the German states under Prussia to form a new nation, Germany
• France's defeat made them more determined to gain control over more countries to regain their status and prestige
• The change in British government resulted in a change in British policy towards Malaya
• Before 1873, the British government believed in free trade and was anti-imperialist under William Gladstone
• Under Benjamin Disreali in 1874, the government believed in colonisation and imperialism, leading to a change in policy towards Malaya
• The local circumstances in Malaya threatened tin supply and British interests
• The British were afraid of being denied access to the tin deposits in Malaya, motivating their intervention
• The British intervened in Perak due to political instability caused by succession disputes and the Larut wars
• Raja Abdullah's request for British support and agreement to a British Resident gave the British an excuse to intervene
• Sir Andrew Clarke played a role in British intervention in Perak
• The Larut wars happened mainly between the Ghee Hins and Hai Sans over control of water courses and mines
• Disputes arose due to unclear demarcation of areas between the mines
• The Chinese engagement involved releasing captives, removing stockades, and establishing clear demarcation of areas
• The Malay engagement recognized Raja Abdullah as the Sultan of Perak and outlined his advisory relationship with the British Resident
• Challenges faced by the British Resident included lack of guidelines, army or police force, formal authority, and resistance to change from the Sultan and Malay chiefs
• The duties of the British Resident included maintaining law and order, advising the Sultan, and managing revenue collection and spending
• Birch's reforms upset the Malays as they abolished debt-slavery, stopped tax collection by the Sultan, and introduced a new Code of Civil and Criminal Law
• The Perak war was caused by the killing of Birch by the Malays, leading to British retaliation and a war between Malay and British forces in 1875